About

Lakou Mizik is a powerhouse collective of Haitian roots music with a soulful energy and a mix of styles that feels mystical and familiar at the same time. In the wake of Haiti’s devastating earthquake the band came together to show the world that their country was much more than the sum of headlines that were being shot around the globe.

Today with their positive messages and roots revival music, they have become one of Haiti’s hottest exports and have gained an international following with their critically acclaimed debut album “Wa Di Yo” and their mystical, soulful, dance party inducing live shows.

Meet LAKOU MIZIK

SANBA ZAO

Sanba Zao (Louis Lesly Marcelin) is a legend of the racine (roots) music movement in Haiti. A founder of the country’s back to the earth movement, Sanba Zao has been on the musical scene for nearly 30 years. He is not only a master drummer with an encyclopedic knowledge of traditional songs and rhythms; Zao is a ferocious front man with a powerful voice and unstoppable energy.

STEEVE VALCOURT

Steeve Valcourt is the son of Haitian musical legend Boulo Valcourt a blues, jazz and roots musician. Thanks to his father, Steeve grew up surrounded by the top stars of Haitian music and absorbed it all. He cites influences as varied as Carlos Santana and George Benson to Haitian protest singer John Steve Brunache. Steeve had some fame as an artist with his compa band Vod’k but found his niche working with his father producing young artists, often for free. Now, Steeve is pushing the rediscovery of traditional Haitian music through Lakou Mizik while showing his deep appreciation and respect for those that he learned from. Steeve currently teaches music production and Haitian music history at the Audio Institute in Jacmel.

JONAS ATTIS

Jonas Attis was born in Jeremie on the southwest coast of Haiti. Known as "The City of Poets," Jeremie has a history of spawning politically engaged artists. Raised in a musical household, Jonas was surrounded by the country’s deep traditions from a young age and he quickly started writing songs. In 1993, Jonas embarked on an ill-fated voyage with his grandmother, a famous leader of a local rara band. They boarded an overcrowded ferry called the Neptune that capsized - nearly 1000 people died in the tragedy. Jonas spent 3 days floating at sea before being saved his grandmother was not so lucky. With his grandmother’s musical spirit running through him Jonas has become a prolific songwriter in the racine movement in Haiti and has become known throughout Port-au-Prince as a passionate and soulful singer with infectious energy on stage. Jonas is one of the lead songwriters of Lakou Mizik and his unique style walks the line between roots music, pop and hip-hop. His songs blend pointed political lyrics with sing-along choruses and never fail to get a crowd moving.

NADINE REMY

Nadine Remy grew up in the Christian evangelical community and her pure voice made her a star of the church choir and gave her the motivation to go seek out the professional guidance of the legendary Boulo Valcourt (Steeve Valcourt’s father). Boulo was impressed with young Nadine’s talent, started giving her lessons and eventually invited her to sing back up for him. It was during this period that Nadine started collaborating with Steeve & Jonas on the Lakou Mizik project. At first Nadine’s Christian background made it difficult for her to sing songs in the vodou tradition; she was concerned what her family and peers would think. But with the encouragement of the other Lakou musicians and the eventual support of her family, Nadine has grown into one of the most powerful roots singers in the country.

JUNIOR LAMARRE

Lamarre Junior is the Lakou Mizik bassist. He grew up playing in church and continues to lead church bands throughout Port-au-Prince. Lamarre lives and breathes music so for him there is no conflict between vodou and church music - his faith is something personal, but he is proud to be playing his country’s cultural music.

PETERSON “TIPITI” JOSEPH

Peterson “Ti Piti” Joseph and James Carrier are the young rara maestros that serve as the engine of Lakou Mizik’s rhythm section. Rara is a traditional street music that has remained relevant and vibrant to this day. During rara parades, packs of young men march through the streets, competing for the title of best band. Ti Piti and James are the stars of "Silibo Tet Syel," a band from the poor neighborhood of Jalousie that sits right next the upscale Pétionville area of Port-au-Prince. Friends since grade school, their parents initially forbade Ti Piti and James from spending time together, but their brother-like bond was unstoppable. Their close relationship makes it possible for them to weave intricate melodies with single-note rara horns. Extremely proud of their craft, Ti Piti and James speak often of the dream of giving the simple rara cornet the same respect as trumpets and trombones. They hope to see cornets in churches and concert halls around the world. Jonas was introduced to Ti Piti and James by a mutual friend in 2009 and started incorporating them into his rara-pop arrangements. Jonas brought them into Lakou Mizik in 2011 and they have become a defining element of the band’s sound.

JAMES CARRIER

BENISTE BELONY

Belony Beniste is Lakou Mizik’s accordion player - and plays a crucial role in tying the band’s sound to the country’s musical traditions. Hailing from the rural North West of the country, Beniste grew up with folk and Vodou music all around. A highly sought after musician in Port-au-Prince, he also plays with the country’s best-known twoubadou singer Ti Coca and comes with a deep wealth of knowledge of Haiti's classic repertoire. Beniste represents a growing number of Haitian accordion players who are keeping the vintage twoubadou tradition alive in Haiti.